Kenneth W. Sukhia

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sukhia Law Firm PLLC  Tallahassee, Florida (2008-present). Trial and appellate lawyers. Mr. Sukhia has defended numerous high profile clients, including two Florida Governors, the Florida Senate, the Republican Party of Florida and President Bush in the 2000 election battle.

Conwell Sukhia & Kirkpatrick, P.A. Tallahassee, Florida. Founding Partner (2006-2008). Litigation firm comprised of former Fowler White partners. Offices in Tampa and Tallahassee. High profile and complex litigation, specializing in intellectual property and technology law. Firm obtained a $22 million judgment in a corporate fraud and conversion action after a two-week trial in Orlando in April 2006 and represented the Florida Senate in defending the constitutionality of the 2006 Lobbyist Disclosure Act.

Fowler White Boggs Banker, P.A. Tallahassee, Florida. Senior Partner (1993-2006). Built successful litigation department in Tallahassee office of fourth largest firm in Florida. Served as trial counsel in various cases, including sole counsel for George W. Bush at trial and on appeal in overseas ballot case of Robert Harris, et al. v. George W. Bush, et al. Case No. 00-16423 (11th Cir. Dec. 11, 2000) and trial counsel in military ballot case of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney v. Election Canvassing Boards of Florida, Case No. 3:00-cv-533 (N.D. Fla. Dec. 8, 2000).

United States Department of Justice

• United States Attorney, Northern District of Florida. (1990-1993). Appointed by President George H.W. Bush as U. S. Attorney for North Florida. Responsible for 89 employees and four offices in 24-county district. During Mr. Sukhia’s tenure, the Northern District ranked at or near the top in cases tried, hours in court and assets forfeited per attorney. Mr. Sukhia personally tried various cases as U. S. Attorney, including one of the first trials in the nation under the federal carjacking statute.
• Assistant United States Attorney, Supervisory Attorney, Appellate Chief, Northern District of Florida. (1980-1990).  Mr. Sukhia handled scores of trials and appeals in complex criminal and civil matters, including CCE and RICO conspiracies, mail fraud, tax evasion, murder conspiracies, child pornography, sexual exploitation, obscenity, money laundering, threats against  the President,  CTR violations, procurement fraud, drug smuggling, medical malpractice, wrongful death, discrimination, environmental actions and commercial litigation.

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. New Orleans and Atlanta (1979-1980).  Law Clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge Joseph W. Hatchett, Jr.  Served as the first law clerk to Judge Hatchett at both the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Supervised the activities of two junior clerks and prepared draft opinions on a wide variety of civil and criminal issues.

Florida Supreme Court. Tallahassee, Florida (1978-1979). Law Clerk to Florida Supreme Court Justice Joseph W. Hatchett, Jr.  Assisted in drafting opinions of statewide importance.

EDUCATION

• Holland Law Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctor- June, 1978; 3.5 G.P.A. High Honors; Graduated in Top 5% of class.
• Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Bachelor of Arts - June 1975;
  3.6 G.P.A. Distinction in all Subjects.
• Florida Technological University, Orlando, Florida, 1971-1973; 3.81 G.P.A.

HONORS AND ACTIVITIES

Employment

• Named in Best Lawyers. (2012-present).
  
• US News and World Reports Best Law Firms. (2013-present).
• Selected to Super Lawyers of Florida - top five percent. (2006-present).
• “AV” Rating from Martindale-Hubbell (1993-present).
• Appointed United States Attorney by President George H. W. Bush. (1990).
• Appointed Interim U. S. Attorney by Attorney General Richard Thornburgh. (1990).
• Received Attorney General’s Special Achievement Award. (1987).
• Received Personal Commendation from United States Attorney General. (1986).
• U.S. Congressional Candidate FL-District 2 (2016)
• Endorsed for Congress by then Senator Jeff Sessions, National Right to Life (2016).

Law School

• Deans List all quarters.
• Top 5% of class.
• Order of the Coif.
• American Jurisprudence Award in Federal Practice and Procedure.
• American Jurisprudence Award in International Law.
  
  

Undergraduate and Secondary

• Cornell University Dean’s Academic Scholarship Award.
• FTU Dean’s Academic Achievement Award.
• Lyman High School Outstanding Student Award.
• Sophomore, Junior & Senior Class President, Lyman High School.

Committees and Association Memberships

• Arbitrator: Commercial and Consumer Panels: American Arbitration Association
• The Federalist Society - Member and Speaker.
• Chairman Florida Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Task Force (1990-1993).
• Member Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission (2008-2013).
• Member Senator Martinez’ Federal Judicial Nominating Commission (2007-2009).
• Member nine-person Disciplinary Panel- 11th Cir. U.S. Court of Appeals (2003-present).
• Northern District Advisor - U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit (1996-2002).
• Florida Supreme Court Historical Society (2002-present).
• Northern District Federal Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group (1991-1993).
• Federal Bar Association (1988-present).
• Founding President, Tallahassee Chapter, Federal Bar Association (1990).
• Rotary Club Downtown Tallahassee (1990-present).
• Attorney General’s Narcotics and Controlled Substance Subcommittee (1990-1993).
• Department of Justice Task Force on Crimes Against Children (1990-1993).
• American Prosecutors Research Institute Federal Working Group (1992)